Tbilisi, Georgia: Georgia celebrated a historic achievement in sport karate as it hosted and won medals at the European Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Tbilisi.
The Georgian national team claimed two gold and one silver medal at the prestigious event, which featured about 1200 athletes from 49 countries. Georgia also ranked eighth in the overall medal table, ahead of many traditional karate powerhouses.
The first gold medal for the host nation came from Gigi Alania, who triumphed in the -52 kg category among cadets. Alania defeated his Ukrainian opponent Maksym Viechkanov with a score of 2:0 in the final, showing his superior technique and speed.
The second gold medal was secured by Uta Poniava, who defended his title of European champion in the -68 kg category among juniors. Poniava faced a tough challenge from his Turkish rival Mustafa Ogragli but prevailed with a score of 4:0 in the final, demonstrating his strength and stamina.
The silver medal for Georgia was won by Ika Sulamanidze, who competed in the -67 kg category among U21 karatekas. Sulamanidze reached the finals after defeating several strong opponents but lost to Bekhir Grabu from Bosnia-Herzegovina with a score of 1:3 in the finals, settling for second place.
The Georgian team was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia, which provided the necessary facilities and funding for the event. Giorgi Arabuli, the ministry’s Deputy Head of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, attended the championship and congratulated the Georgian karatekas on their outstanding performance.
The European Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Tbilisi marked the first time that Georgia hosted a major international karate event.
The successful organization and results of the championship showcased the potential and development of the sport karate in Georgia and its contribution to the promotion of Georgian culture and sports worldwide.
